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145
complaining of nuisance caused by a coke conveyor recently
erected by the Gas Light and Coke Co.
The Medical Officer of Health attended, and reported upon
the subject as follows:—
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,—
I have considered the reference of the Committee asking
for my opinion as to whether a nuisance injurious or dangerous
to health arises in connection with the Coke Conveyor
at the Gas Light and Coke Company's Works at Nine Elms.
I have had the matter under constant observation by
Inspector Benjamin, who reported to me the existence of a
nuisance from the deposit of coke dust, which is carried by the
wind into the houses in the vicinity. I have, in consequence,
personally visited the Company's works and inspected the
plant. Although no nuisance was observable at the time of
my visit, I have no doubt, from the inspection which I subsequently
made of some of the adjoining houses and yards,
that the Inspector's report is correct, and that the dust is
carried by the wind, when the conveyor is in use, into those
houses and yards—a condition of things which manifestly
must be inseparable from the use of such an apparatus in the
vicinity of inhabited dwellings.
Should the Council's Solicitor be of opinion that the
matter is one that can be dealt with under Section 21 of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the Council will have no
option but to take immediate action. In my opinion, however,
no nuisance exists to which Section 2 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, can be made applicable.
I am, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
G. Quin Lennane,
Medical Officer of Health.
The Medical Officer of Health further stated that he had
written to the Gas Company upon the question of the dust, and
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